One of the most underappreciated storylines to come out of Super Bowl LX is the NFC conference’s recent dominance over the AFC.
The Patriots looked noncompetitive against the Seattle Seahawks and fell 13-29. Drake Maye had one of the worst quarterback performances in recent memory.
Just a year ago the Chiefs were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles 22-40. The game was never close.
But the Chiefs did win the last two Super Bowls prior to 2024. They did so with three-point margins against each of the 49ers and Eagles. The NFC won the two world championships leading up to that point with wins by the Rams and Buccaneers.
In short, four of the last six Super Bowl victories have gone to the NFC. The two most recent games features the largest point differentials, and those outcomes tipped heavily in the National conference’s favor.
Rams at Seahawks was the real Super Bowl
Did the story reach its climax in the championship weekend? I asked this question leading up to the Seahawks hosting the Rams, and it seems particularly apt now.
We saw the two best teams in the NFL go toe-to-toe for a trip to the Super Bowl. It seemed at the time whoever finished on top would also lay claim to the Lombardi Trophy. That held true.
Were the Patriots frauds? Not necessarily. They were just a year too early in terms of their roster build. This was an AFC conference without the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, and the Bengals and Ravens who battled injuries at the quarterback position for most of the season. It’s positive for New England that they were able to accumulate playoff experience for a young roster. 2025 was never going to be their year.
What the future holds for Rams
The path will remain more difficult on the NFC side for the foreseeable future. The Seahawks probably aren’t going anywhere. The Bears, Packers, Panthers, and new entrants should be tougher a year from now.
We know the Rams have serious needs heading into the offseason. They need to rework their secondary in addition to reloading at receiver.
Even if they patch these holes it will be an uphill battle to return to the NFC championship. That’s just how the NFL works. As a fan you must appreciate these moments because they are fleeting between eras.
But hey, if the Rams do make it out of the NFC they should have the upper hand over the AFC team.
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